Celebrating International Women's Day

Stephanie Brown Munro is seen at city hall. Tyler Marr / Meridian Booster

Though she may be debating policy around tables at city hall or helping patients in need at the clinic, Stephanie Brown Munro works to be, above all else, a role model and mother to her children.

“I just want to be the best example for my children that I possibly can be,” Brown Munro explained, when asked what it meant to be a woman who has three young girls of her own.

“They have the ability to live out their dreams, whatever they may be. Through hard work and determination, all things are possible.”

Though managing this hectic life is not simple, Brown Munro aims to do everything she can to lead as a positive example for her children and family.

Despite the days that can begin at the crack of dawn with the preparation of her children for school and drag endlessly into the night nestled on the couch reading the endless documents for upcoming council meetings, Brown Munro strives to provide an example of commitment for her children.

“Even at the end of the day, when I am exhausted, I want to show my children that I am committed. They need to know that though mom was tired, she kept going and she has the drive and determination to make the difference. That is honestly what keeps me going.”

Being the only female member on city council was also an honour for Brown Munro, who hoped she could use the time in the position to encourage girls in helping them understand they can attain whatever they set out to do.

“Going and speaking to the youth council and speaking to different people I think ‘I am just an average person, this is where I grew up. I am now sitting on council representing our community,’” she said.

“I think that showing women and girls, showing them, ‘Look at her, she grew up here and now look where she is at,’” she added was crucial.

This year, Canada’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Equality Matters,” hinging on the fact that the talents of everyone — women, men, girls or boys — are needed to reach the world’s full potential, and that gender stereotypes can hold us back.

On this, Brown Munro said that woman were “so capable” and their differences from men, in the way they think or approach particular topics, need to be taken into account.

She said equality here at home and across the country were moving along nicely, but felt this reach of acceptance and respect needed to be felt abroad.

“In Canada, we have women at all levels (of government) and in many sectors, but it is not nearly as good as it is here on an international level,” she said.

“There is some stigma still out there, and many women are very insecure and do not have that confidence, I think, that is needed to succeed.”

However, along the road to success, road blocks and hurdles can present themselves.

To this, Brown Munro said she knew many women have been faced with these and pointed to remaining strong and standing up when one felt they needed to do so.

“I will always stand up for what I believe in,” she said. “Having that drive and passion has allowed me to overcome so many of those things that can pop up.”

Pointing to where this drive comes from, Brown Munro pegged her mother as an immense role model in her life.

“She has always been one to do anything, for anyone. She sits on numerous boards and committees at the provincial and national level, and to see her be able to do that and see her succeed, it gives me the drive to want to be that person as well,” she said.

“If I see that in my mom, I want my kids to see that in me. She is someone I respect.”

Michele Charles Gustafson is seen in her home. Tyler Marr / Meridian Booster

While it may be her career, Michele Charles Gustafson takes empowering women to another level.

Being an image consultant, she helps to create confidence in women, and is something she said was not just a job, but a calling.

“I think women are the most powerful things out there,” she said. “Women have the ability to change the world … We are the natural nurturers (and) we are the ones teaching. We teach our children (and) we teach fellow women.”

With this innate quality of nurturing and teaching, Charles Gustafson said women are needed in places like government, medical, education, home and business life for what they bring to the table.

“No matter what, it’s going to be more personal, it’s going to rest on relationships, it’s going to bring people together (and) connect them just by virtue of us being a woman, it’s easy for us,” she explained.

Growing up, Charles Gustafson was always told by her parents “women are the ones that change the world,” and she and her sister could do whatever they wanted.

However, it wasn’t until around 20 years ago when she started to mentor women she noticed they didn’t have the same speak.

“They weren’t told that, so it hindered their process of moving forward for success. Since then it’s always been I’m speaking a language so that you can pick up your language for yourself,” she added.

With the confidence she was instilled with from a young age, she said she hasn’t faced many hurdles or barriers but has seen others overcome them.

“I have watched women have hurdles and jumped over them because they’ve improved their confidence. So, that’s huge,” Charles Gustafson said.
This year’s theme for International Women’s Day 2017 is “Equality Matters.” While there have been strides made throughout the decades to mend the gap between men and women, there are still challenges.

“Growing up my parents talked about the equality of men and women and how the two genders really have their roles, like a bird,” Charles Gustafson described. “(A man) is one wing and (a woman) is the other, and without one wing the bird cannot fly.”

With the way life is evolving around the world, she noted that people are able to see things globally, which they may not feel right about and women have a hand it helping to change it.

“The media is allowing our voices to be heard, so it allows us to say ‘no, we are able to be equal, it’s better to be equal, the world is a better place when we are equal and you’re going to need to listen to us. We are louder than you know,’” she said.

As for her ultimate hope for International Women’s Day, Charles Gustafson said she wished we wouldn’t have to have a day like this.

“By saying we have an International Women’s Day, (it) means there is something we need to say about the inequality that we have to bring to life, there should be equality or we need to stand for something. In my ideal world we don’t have to do that anymore,” she explained.

While this hope may not be seen in the near future, she acknowledged right now, International Women’s Day is really for women themselves.

“It’s awareness for women to know you have a voice. Your voice should be heard, you are important, you are here to do important work … to own the qualities of a woman, empower others and to teach girls the same. International Women’s Day isn’t for anyone else but women,” she said.

However, even if there becomes a time when there is complete equality, Charles Gustafson said women will probably still celebrate International Women’s Day.

“That’s the thing that’s amazing about women. We are community-based and for as long there are women there will be communities of women coming together. Even for a celebration instead of a protest.”

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